Object ID: 00000018WIA300AB770GYZ
Topic ID: id_40025632 Version: 1.2
Date: Jul 26, 2022 1:41:05 PM

Contact point heating

Patient positioning can affect the safety of the scan procedure. To help prevent a patient burn from closed loops formed by the following examples: clasped hands, by hands touching the body, from thighs contacting, the patient's breasts contacting the chest wall over a small area, etc., insert non-conducting pads at least 0.25 inches thick between touching parts and between the patient and the bore wall and the patient and any coils or conductors.

Figure 1. Patient positioned with non-conducting pads (1)

Observe the following warnings concerning contact point heating to protect patients from excessive heating or burns related to induced currents during MR procedures:

Warning

RF can cause localized heating, discomfort or burns at contact points between:

patient/bore
patient/RF coil
skin-to-skin contact that can form a conductive loop through part of the body, e.g.: inner thigh-to-thigh, calf-to-calf, hand-to-hand, hand-to-body, ankle-to-ankle

Warning

IEC 60601-2-33: 201.7.9.2.101

RF can cause localized heating at contact points between adjacent body parts when a loop is formed. Such localized heating can result in discomfort, or burns. This could occur when a patient’s hands are touching or when a female patient’s breasts are compressed to her chest. Use pads between body parts to avoid creating a loop with adjacent body parts.

Warning

Place appropriate non-conductive padding between the patient and the bore wherever a portion of the body may come into contact with the magnet opening.

Warning

IEC 60601-2-33: 201.7.9.2.101

Always place appropriate non-conductive padding between the surface coil and the patient’s skin to prevent burn injuries.

Warning

For shoulder imaging, always place appropriate non-conductive padding between the patient’s opposite shoulder or a portion of the patient’s body and the bore wherever a portion of the body or opposite shoulder comes into contact with the bore.

CAUTION

IEC 60601-2-33: 201.7.9.2.101 (j)

RF can cause localized heating at patient contact points. Wet diapers or incontinence products have the same electrical properties as human tissue. All patients with diapers, including adults, should have dry diapers on prior to the start of the scan. If the patient reports discomfort due to warming, stop the scan.